Everything

Well, disorganisation hit again, along with a whole load of famiy crap all at once, and i have been reasoning to myself that i will post again as soon as everything is alll finished and i can organise my thoughts, but i have realiased that that isn't ever gonna happen. Stuff happens, and keeps happening, it never stops.


So my reasoning jwas working for me, but when Ben said the other night that my blog had officially died i thought that i had to save it - too much has been wasted recently for me to be wsasting this too.

Well the first, and biggest change for me has been building for about the past 8 years. My parents seperated.

Before you all start writing me concilatory reoplies, the fact is that as much as i love (loved? do i have to use past tense now?) having a whole family, it wasn't fair to my parents to be living on each others toes and cramping each other. They have both been stifled and supressed, and i honestly love them both too much to spite them the chance to live a better life.

Wow, it's easier to type than i thought.

Well going on, since then i decided to live with Dad (we have always had a close relationship, and though i love her very much, i don't really connect with my mum in the same way i do with Dad.

Dad and i found a house, and it is a great place, we are currently renovating, but now that we have the internet back i have no excuse not to post again. Its quite cool though, being involved in the whole process of setting up house. Dad wants to start a blog showing the reno process, so i am gonna leave this topic now and post a link to that blog once it's going.

In other news, i have been working pretty full time for the past two weeks, which is quite cool. I have used some of the money to go halves with dad on a moped, which is AWESOME!! freedom at last, personal transport woop woop!!

So... what else, i guess it's like cleaning your room - my own fault for not bologging in a while, now i have heaps to cover...

Im going to parachute!! should be awesome! For those of you who don't know, Parachute is a huge Christian Music festival.

I have really gotten into Anberlin, i will post a song when im not on wireless, can't be bothered waiting for it to upload atm :p (if you want you could use limewire or youtube to check them out urself, they also have a myspace

Um... what else??? well i finished school for the year. Finaly.

Im sure there's more, but i am notoriously forgetful so yeah :p

Well, i will finish this post now, and declare Considering The Grace OFFICIALLY REOPENED


Love you all,

God Bless

Joel

Ah! The Disorganisation!!

Well, i had a feeling it might happen - but here i am three weeks after my first day blogging and no new posts!

I guess i could blame it on everything that's been happening, but that's really more reason to blog, and i have been meaning to write a new post for a while. I guess a list is a good way to organise things;


School:

Well, i had mock exams a couple of weeks ago, didn't do to well, but i didn't study at all so i kinda expected it... i need to study for the next lot cos they actually count!!

Church:

Well, for the first time in a while i got up 3 sunday's ago and thought "maybe i will go to St C's today, havent been in a while" just to find that the youth retreat was the next weekend and registration closed today! well, somehow i got everything organised in time and 2 fridays ago i left for Wainui. What to say??!?!! SO AWESOME!! was the first time in a long time that i felt so close to God, i wrote a song while i was there, it was based on Isaiah 12. Was the first time in SO long that i have written and was really encouraging. Anyway since i got back ive been buzzing, no longer waking up exhausted (though mornings are still an effort :p) and i have been reading my bible, which i haven't been doing for a while. People are awesome! have you ever noticed that?

Family:

Well, Jess and Mum get back this Thursday, and i am really looking forward to seeing them! Dad and i have been having a cool time here though, its been really good for us both to have some spave. We had Emily, Ginga and Alex round yesterday for Sunday luch which was real cool.

Coffee:

Which leads on to the next point; THE EXPOBAR IS FINALLY WORKING!!
For those of you who don't know im something of a coffee nut, and i bought a broken commercial machine from TradeMe a month or two ago. Well after initial fixes, we got a line plumbed into our kitchen and tested the machine and it didn't work, so i left it there for a while, well yesterday i went and saw Paul (another Coffee nut who restores old machines) and we had a tinker, and after tightening a solenoid and replacing a safety valve everything was working! not too pretty but working!
Also on saturday Mark and I took his Futurmat 2 group to the Middleton Grange school fair and worked the day there - we had estimated for a MAX of 90 drinks, but in the three hours we were working we didnt have any time not doing, we ended up using all 2-2 1/2 kilos of coffee we had taken, plus all 200 of the cups, plus about a kilo of hot chocolate, which meant that we sold around 210 drinks!!!!!!! INSANE!! was great fun.

Anyway, i am going to leave it there for now, hopefully i will be uploading photos later this week of the machine and closer camp and maybe jess and mum's time in the UK.

God bless you all



Joel

Loser - Switchfoot

Was listening to this song and it made me realise how misguided the attempts people make at popularity or their search for money really is.





click the play button to listen to the song


Only the losers win
they've got nothing to prove
They'll leave the world with nothing to lose
You can laugh at the weirdos now
Wait till wrongs are right
They'll be the ones with nothing to hide

'Cause I've been thinking, thinking
I've got a plan to lose it all
I've got a contract pending on eternity
If I haven't already given it away
I've got a plan to lose it all

I've been the burnout kid
I've been the idiot
I'll turn the other cheek to be hit
You can take what you want from me
Empty me till I'm depleted
I'll be around if I'm ever needed

I wrote this song for you
To show how I'm selling out
I'll take the benefit of a doubt

An Introduction To Me

Well, here i am. I have been meaning to start a blog for a while, and finally i have gotten round to it.



Well i guess i should start with an introduction to who i am;



I Am Joel


I Am 16, and i live in Christchurch in New Zealand.


I Am a Christian


I Am concerned for our world and where it is going, i am ashamed of a lot of teenagers who do drugs or have casual sex "just because all teenagers do" - that isnt a reason or excuse, i feel great empathy towards those in poverty


I Am interested in film and media.


I Am passionate about coffee, am a trained barista and work at a coffee roastery.


I Am employed by UCTL at Canterbury University to help with Web Mediation.


I Am a bassist, and am in the process of starting a band. I Also play some guitar (though not much)


I Am strongly of the opinion that what you are defines you more than what you do - actions may speak louder than words, but facts are indisputable.



I come from a family of five - my two parents and both a brother and sister who are older than me. I love my familiy hugely.


Now that i have started this blog i intend to use it both as a way of expressing myself and also of communicating with my scattered relatives (currently spread between England, Russia, America, Africa (not sure exactly where at this very point!) and quite possibly other destinations that i havent factored in because i haven't been in enough contact with them!!)



Anyway, thats my conclusion for now. I will try to post at least once a week.